Taking Responsibility for Your Retirement Fund

Relying on pension funds and Social Security is no longer sufficient when planning for retirement. To help, the IRS has published the following tips to help you take charge of saving for retirement:

Set a goal: Even if you can only save a small amount, setting aside money each month will get you in the habit of saving.

Open an Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA): Most Americans can open and make tax-deferred contributions to an IRA.

Learn about your employer’s retirement plan: If you’re covered under your employer’s retirement plan, be sure to ask for your copy of the summary plan description to learn about your rights under the plan.

Review your benefits statement: Your plan administrator can provide you with a benefits statement, which details your total plan benefits and the amount vested.

Sign up for 401(k) contributions: If your employer offers a 401(k), you can select how much money you want taken out of each paycheck to be put into this account.

Estimate your Social Security benefits: Use the Social Security Administration’s calculator to do so.

Learn about your spouse’s retirement plan: Many plans provide spousal benefits. Be sure to read the plan’s details to see if you are eligible.

We have a retirement consultant from Cannon Financial Strategists who comes to the Gainesville historic campus once each month. If you wish to schedule a meeting, please contact Kelley Maddox at ude.uanerb@xoddamk.